Machine for making fiber composition



Sept. 7,1926. 1,599,385

' M. w. PRYOR MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBER COMPOSITION Filed 001;. 11. 1922 INVENTOR wa ATTORNEY 4/470 M P/PYOE Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES I 1,599,385 PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON w. rayon, or AKRON, OHIO, Assrcnoia To run eoonYnAn arms a RUBBER COMPANY, or AKRON, 01110, A conronArron or 0310.

MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBER COMPOSITION.

Application filed October 11, 1922. Serial No. 593,928.

My invention pertains to a novel method of manufacturing fibrous material, and it also relates to a machlne for procuring a uniform felted relation between the various fibers.

- moisture in the materal at a uniform rate.

' ficulty by causing the belt to pass succ'es-- A still further object of my invention consists in providing a machine whereby the material may be moved over an area comrising a plurality of zones in which diferent and variable degrees of suction have been established.

Heretofore, in the manufacture of various types of fibrous material, it has been customary to employ a machine of the Fourdrinier type, commonly used in the manufacture of paper, by means of which material is produced in a continuous sheet of any desired length and width. The material is formed upon a moving belt by employing a suction producing apparatus by which the liquid in which the fibers are. suspended 1s drawn through the belt so as to leave a deposition of fibers thereon. Owing to the relatively high degree of suction employed over the entire area of the felt in the liquid there is a tendency for a relatively large proportion of the ultimate thickness of the fibrous material to be deposited upon "the belt as soon as it moves into the range of the suction producing apparatus. This results in a relatively large number of fibers being deposited upon the belt in an extremely short interval of time, thus interfering with the proper felting or matting thereof. After the initial deposition of the fibers on the belt but a relatively small number of fibers are added during the remainder of the movement of the belt over the suction producing apparatus.

By my invention I have obviated th1s difsively over a number of relatively narrow suction boxes, whereby the force of the suction to which the fibrous material is subjected is gradually increased as the belt moves along the suction producing un1t. In this manner the fibers are deposited at substantially a uniform rate throughout the entireemovement of the belt over the suction boxes.

In the accompanyin drawing, I have shown a. machine 0 the Fourdrinier type which consists of a movable belt or carrier 1, composed of porous material, and whlch moves over a pulley member 2,

- through an inclined plane 3, over a pulley member 4, through a horizontal plane 5,

over two idling pulleys 6 and back to pulley 2.

That portion of the belt 1, which is disposed wlthin the inclined plane 3, constitutes a side wall of a tank 7, in which is disposed a quantity of fibers suspended in liguid. The liquid and the fibers are both a mitted to the tank 7 together through a conduit 8, which communicates with a feed mg device. Disposed in engagement with that portion of the belt 1 which lies in the inclined plane 3, is a suction producing device which consists of a plurality of units 9, each of which are connected to a main suction producing device 10 by means of ipes, or conduits, 11. The air is exausted from the member 10 and the liquid in the tank 7 is then drawn through the belt 1 by reason of the fact that the pressure in the sucton box units 9 is reduced materially below the atmospheric pressure.

units 9, which is connected to the chamber 10 by means of a relatively small pipe 13. The second unit 14, of the suction producin device, is of equal dimensions with the unit 12, but is connected to the chamber 10 by means of a pipe 15 which is larger-than the ipe 13. In like manner, the remainder of t e units 9 are connected to the chamber 10 by successively larger connecting pipes, but all present the same amount of surface to the inclined plane 3.

By reason of the fact that the entire surface of the various units 9 are substantially open permitting thepassage of liquid therethrough, and as the force tending to draw the liquid through the various pipes is exactly the same, it will be obvious that with each of the'various pipes 11 having liquid passing therethroughfat exactly the same rate, a materially smaller quantity 01' liquid will pass through the pipe 13 than through any of the larger pipes. Also, since the open area of the chamber 12 is exactly similar to that of the chamberl l, and since a materiall smaller quantity of water is drawn theretllrough, the degree of suction at thesurface of the box 13 must be materially less than at the surface of the box 14. In like manner,-;it may be-proven that the suction at the surface of the container 14 is less than'that of any of the succeeding units engaged by the belt.

It Wlll be apparent from the description that the material is subjected to a gradually increasing pressure as it moves up the inclined plane 3, which is necessary to cause the fibers to be deposited thereon at a uniform rate, as the mat on the belt becomes gradually thicker and less porous. On ac count of the fact that the deposition ofthe fibers occurs over the entire surface of the suction producing apparatus rather than over but a relatively small portion thereof, the felting is more gradual, and the time and the opportunity for the proper feltin of the fibers is very great as compared wit structures heretofore employed for similar purposes.

The ipes 11 are each provided with a valve 1 by means of which the flow of liquid through the various pipes, and therefore the degree of suction existing in each of the units 9, may be regulated at will.

After the material has been formed upon the belt 1 it is carried into the horizontal plane 5 in which it is sub'ected to a bath of cleaning or displacing fluid from a tank 18, by means of spraying devices 19. Opposite the spraying devices 19 and in engagement with the belt 1 is disposed a plurality. of suction producing units 20, which are connected to the main suction tank 10 by means of pipes 21- of relatively difi'erent areas. The first of the devices 20, with which the belt comes in contact, has a materially smaller degree of suction established therein than has any of the succeeding chambers, so that the degree of suction to which the belt is subjected is gradually increased, as described in connection with the device 9.

I have found it desirable to adually increase the force of the suction rom 0 to 2 pounds per square inch, in order to secure the best results.

displacing agent thereon, or to spray on a vulcanizing agent, as may be desired. 1

While I have illustrated but a single form which my invention may assume and have described in detail. but a single application thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the'art that it is not so limited, but that various minor modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention, or from the S00 e of the appended claims.

hat I claim is: 1. A machine for making a fibrous material comprising a movable porous belt, means for supplying thereto a quantity of fibers suspended in a liquid, means for removing the liquid therefrom through said belt comprising a plurality of vacuum chambers adapted to be successively engaged by said belt and a spray device for displacing the suspending fiui 2. A machine for making a fibrous material comprising a movable porous belt means for supplying'thereto a quantity. 0% fibers suspended in a liquid, means for removing the liquid therefrom through said belt comprising a plurality of vacuum chambers having difl'erent degrees of vacuum established therein disposed in engagement with said belt, adapted to be successively engaged by any moving portion thereof, and means for thoroughly washin' the suspending medium from the formed s eet.

3. A machinefor making a fibrous material comprising a movable porous member adapted to pass through a tank, means for supplying to said tank a quantity of fibers suspended in a liquid, means for removing said liquid through said movable member comprising a plurality of vacuum chambers adapted to .be enga ed successively b said movable member w ile immersed an having diflerent degrees of vacuum established therein a plurality of vacuum chambers adapted to be engaged by said movable member' after leaving said tank, and means for washing the fibrous composition.

- In witness whereof, I have hereunto signedmy name.

" MILTON W. PRYOR. 

